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Newcomers face off in race for mayor

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Jim Connors

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Frank V. Marsala

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Scott Storms

LAKE GENEVA — Jim Connors and Scott Storms agree on one thing: The next mayor and city council have a lot of work to do to get past the political battle that divided the city for more than two months.

Voters on Tuesday eliminated Alderman Frank Marsala from the race for mayor and picked Connors and Storms, who are making their first runs for political office. They will face off in April for the top post in city government after incumbent Mayor Bill Chesen chose not to seek re-election.

Storms said the ouster of incumbent Alderwoman Penny Roehrer in District 2 on Tuesday and the recall of Alderman Tom Spellman in District 3 in December shows that people are ready for change.

He said people are sick of council members who would rather “nitpick” and stir up arguments than conduct city business.

Storms said Connors is aligned with that group, but voters don’t know it yet.

“When people realize he’s been part of that group that’s holding up government instead of fixing it … when the community finds out all of his ties, they’re going to reject him,” he said. “They’re sick of that group, and they’re sick of the lies.”

Connors said the changes are part of a national trend toward removing incumbents and electing newcomers.

“You can’t attribute it to any one reason,” he said. “It just seems like a trend.”

Storms said the race for mayor will come down to qualifications and background.

“There is such a huge difference between being a government manager and being a business manager,” he said. “Connors (a businessman) is looking at the bottom line, at profit. … He is not concerned with people’s feelings.”

Connors said his business experience gives him a unique perspective on city government.

“I have a fresh set of eyes to look at things people probably take for granted,” he said. “I’m not intending to reinvent the wheel. I just have a common-sense approach to things.”

Storms and Connors said they would work hard to restore harmony at City Hall and bring integrity to the office of mayor by setting a good example.